Preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic groups.

Việt Nam•22/11/2023

This past October, the cultural center of Lieng village, Noong Luong commune, Dien Bien district, was brightly lit every evening. This was because a class was being held there to teach the ancient Thai script. The class was held only in the evenings, with no tests or grading, and students of diverse ages ranging from 12 to 65. In this special class, there were mothers and daughters attending together, two sisters meticulously writing each character, and even married couples carefully practicing reading each character of their ethnic group… They came to the class with a love for the ancient Thai script, hoping to preserve their ethnic writing system for future generations. For them, learning the ancient Thai script was not simply about learning to write and speak, but also about learning the beautiful traditional cultural values that had existed for generations.

Mr. Tong Van Han, from the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts of Ethnic Minorities - who directly teaches the class - shared: “I developed a very detailed but easy-to-understand lesson plan, closely related to daily life. I built the lesson plan starting from the first letters, the first characters, guiding the method of combining each sound and syllable. The goal is to make learning simple and easy for our people...”

Since joining the class teaching the ancient Thai language, Ms. Quang Thi Kim from Lieng village has been diligently finishing her housework early so she can attend class on time. Starting out as someone who didn't know a single letter of her ethnic group's script, she can now read and write fluently. Ms. Quang Thi Kim shared: “The Thai language and script are an indispensable part of the cultural heritage of the Thai ethnic group in particular, contributing to the rich cultural identity of all ethnic groups in general. I am 62 years old this year, but I am still diligently learning to read and write each letter. First, so that I can learn my own script, and then to pass it on to my children and grandchildren. That's how we can preserve our script...”

With the spirit of preserving heritage for future generations, the Provincial Museum has recently opened many classes to teach the craft of making Hmong flutes, contributing to the preservation of this unique musical instrument. Not only does it serve the spiritual life of the Hmong people, but it also spreads and becomes a product that attracts domestic and international tourists, promoting tourism development in the locality. In 2023, the Provincial Museum opened classes to teach Hmong flute making in the districts of Muong Nha, Muong Ang, Tua Chua, etc. Students were taught by artisans the secrets of selecting materials, how to craft the constituent parts such as the body, tubes, and bands, as well as how to cast bronze and make the reeds... to create a complete flute. Mr. Dang Trong Ha, Director of the Provincial Museum, said: “Through the teaching of the process of creating a complete Hmong flute, we have a basis for preserving and promoting its value, creating opportunities and a favorable environment for the heritage of “Hmong ethnic group's flute making and dancing” to thrive in the community, so that the community can preserve and promote these beautiful cultural heritage values. This is also a source of encouragement for the Hmong people in preserving their own cultural values, encouraging artisans to pass on the heritage to the next generation, contributing to enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the people, strengthening and consolidating the great unity among ethnic groups, promoting tourism development, and aiming towards the common goal of socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Dien Bien province.”

Dien Bien is a border province with 19 ethnic groups living together, showcasing a diverse range of cultures. Currently, the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of these ethnic groups in the province is receiving special attention from all levels and sectors. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: In 2021, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU on the preservation and development of the culture of ethnic groups in Dien Bien province, linked to socio-economic development in the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030. Based on the targets and tasks of the Resolution, the Culture sector has advised and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee a plan and implementation scheme for the entire province in stages. This clearly identifies key tasks regarding the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Investing in and promoting the value of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, developing tourism, and improving the cultural life of the province's ethnic groups; paying attention to training and improving the quality of human resources serving the preservation and development of ethnic cultures.

“Based on the assigned tasks in the projects and plans on the preservation and development of ethnic cultures, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has directed its subordinate departments and units to implement them, achieving many outstanding results. For example, surveying, inventorying, collecting, and documenting the traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minorities; including conducting an inventory and assessment of the current status of cultural heritage inscribed by UNESCO and cultural heritage included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Organizing the preservation and restoration of typical traditional festivals of ethnic minorities; organizing the teaching of making Hmong flutes in Muong Ang, Muong Nha, and Tua Chua districts; organizing research and preservation of traditional sports, unique sports of the White Thai ethnic group in Na Su village, Cha Nua commune, Nam Po district… In addition, the department has also built and put into operation a management system, "Digitizing relics, intangible cultural heritage, and artifacts of the Dien Bien Provincial Museum..." - Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep added.

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